Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, captivates visitors with its lovely canals, historic architecture, and timeless charm.
Our trip to Venice was memorable, as we visited Venice during our Honeymoon!
Navigating narrow streets and waterways’ labyrinth can bez exciting and challenging for first-time visitors. I can’t even tell you how many times we got lost!
To help you make the most of your visit, we’ve curated a list of the best things to do in Venice, highlighting the top 10 attractions in Venice that showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage and breathtaking scenery.
Let’s explore the must-see sights and experiences that make Venice a bucket-list destination for travelers worldwide.
10 Best Things to Do in Venice For First-Timers
Here is our list of our favorite things to do in Venice. We stayed in Venice for a few nights and highly recommend you do the same to explore more leisurely!
Venice is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, it offers unforgettable experiences for every traveler.
This guide will ensure first-time visitors don’t miss any essential highlights, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
Remember to allow extra time for exploring, as Venice’s leisurely pace and winding streets often lead to delightful detours.
1. Visit the Rialto Bridge, Venice
To us, the Ponte di Rialto (the Rialto Bridge, Venice) is the true heart of Venice, and the sight from this bridge over the Grand Canal will always make my heart flutter in remembrance.
The Rialto Bridge in Venice is the most famous of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. The bridge, a stone arch, was constructed between 1855 and 1591 to replace the wooden bridge, which was very similar in design.
Today, this bridge is one of the most visited landmarks in Italy, and rightly so. The atmosphere, vibe, and sights here are simply remarkable.
I can’t even count how many times we crossed the Rialto Bridge during our visit and how many photos we took from the bridge over the canal.
We recommend you visit this bridge during the day and at night.
2. People-Watch at San Marco Square
The San Marco Piazza is world-famous for a reason. It is one massive piazza, and the architecture here is simply beautiful.
Of course, the San Marco Basilica is the masterpiece of San Marco Square in Venice (more on the Basilica in the next point).
The piazza is lined with several restaurants, most of which have an orchestra playing. The atmosphere that the orchestra creates here at the square is simply divine.
But beware: If you choose to sit down at one of these ‘orchestra’ restaurants, you will be charged an additional fee on top of your food and drinks to help cover the band’s costs.
Walking around the square and area doesn’t cost a thing, but there are some great things to do while you are here that we will share next.
3. Venture inside the Basilica di San Marco, Venice
- St Mark Basilica Opening Hours: Open daily from 9:30 am – 5 pm, except for Sundays and Holidays: 2 pm – 5 pm
- St Mark Basilica Tickets: Free; however, it costs 5 euros to access the higher level to get a view over the square.
- Skip-the-line Tickets: The queue for the Basilica can get very long, and a waiting time of around 45 minutes during high season can be normal. We bought a Skip-The-Line ticket for 16 Euros each, which allowed us much quicker access to the Basilica.
The magnificent Basilica di San Marco’s architecture will blow you away.
The mellow lighting inside the Basilica gives it a glorious effect from the dark golden interior glow.
Be mindful that Saint Mark’s Basilica is a sacred site. Photography or filming is not allowed, and loud noises are not tolerated.
While the interior of the Basilica was spectacular, we fell in love with the rooftop view over San Marco Square.
Ensure you climb the steep stairs to the top level, pay the additional fee, and get a splendid view over the piazza.
4. Grab City Views from the San Marco Campanile
- Campanile di San Marco Tickets: 10 Euro p/p; a lift will deliver you to the top of the tower.
- Opening Times: Times vary during different times of the year. However, it generally opens at 9:30 am until around 9:15 pm
A visit to the Campanile Bell Tower at San Marco Piazza is a must, as it offers a glorious view of Venice.
Beware, though, as the bells in this tower still ring throughout the day, and trust me, they are incredibly loud when you stand right below them!
5. Visit the Bridge of Sighs, Venice
The famous Bridge of Sighs, built out of limestone and dating back to the 17th century, spans the Palace River and connects the Old Prison and interrogation rooms in the Dodge Palace to the New Prison.
It is probably one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Venice, so expect to see a crowd.
There are two very different stories about how the Bridge of Sighs was named.
The first suggests that prisoners would ‘sigh’ as they walked across this bridge realizing that they would never see the outside world again.
The other more romantic tale suggests that if two lovers kiss under the bridge at sunset, their love will be eternal. So the ‘sighs’ come from the lovers overwhelmed with the romantic atmosphere.
As you can see in our photo, this canal is a trendy route for Gondoliers as a result.
Either way, the Venice Bridge of Sighs is gorgeous and worth seeing.
While we did not take the tour through the Dodge Palace that allows you to walk on the bridge, we did take some pictures of the Bridge of Sighs from both sides.
6. Check Out The Markets in Venice
You will find fresh markets in Venice at San Polo, Campo de la Pescaria daily.
This market is beaming with fresh local fish and delicious juicy fruits and veggies.
In Venice, we bought a supply of fruits to add to our breakfasts. If you have the time, absorb the hustle and bustle of a busy market atmosphere here.
Open every day (except Sundays) from 7:30-13:30. (The fish market is only open till noon).
7. Explore the history of the Jewish Ghetto
The Jewish Ghetto is an area of Venice where Jews were forced to live from the 16th to the 18th Century.
This is a really interesting area with a great historical story to tell. You can still find a Jewish community living here and lots of little restaurants and bakeries that sell Jewish specialties.
This area was made famous by Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’ and is also home of the Jewish Museum: Museo Communità Ebraica.
If you love learning more about the history of places, it would be worth going on a Jewish Ghetto, Venice tour here.
The tours last around an hour, and tour guides are available at the Synagogue, gift shop, or Kosher Cafe.
8. Treat yourself to Venice Gondola Rides
The Gondola ride was our favorite of all the things we did in Venice. I know it is pricey, but it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience – so indulge.
We found it incredibly relaxing and loved the view of Venice and the buildings from low down on the water. If you are looking for some romantic ideas of what to do in Venice, this one is at the top of the list!
Your experience of the Gondola Ride in Venice will significantly depend on the area where you choose to grab one.
We knew we wanted to experience the ride in quieter areas of Venice, so we avoided the more popular spots, where the Gondolas on the water are lined up bumper to bumper on the canal.
Venice Gondola Tips:
- You can’t negotiate for a Gondola Ride: Venice has a law that states the price of Gondola ride tickets. The more you pay, the longer your ride will be. Make sure you discuss costs and length before you get into the Gondola. Gondola rides are more expensive at night.
- Gondolas can fit 6 people: We did it with just the two of us and could stretch out and relax more as a result, however, you pay for the Gondola, so more people = less cost per person.
- Seranade: You will be expected to pay more if you want a serenaded ride.
- Pre-Book: You can pre-book your Venice Gondola Ride on this website here.
Tip: One Venice Gondola ‘driver’ is revered on Tripadvisor. Everyone raves about his services.
While we did not use him, if you want to ensure your Gondola experience is pleasantly memorable, shout Luca an email – [email protected].
9. Relax on a Grand Canal Cruise
You must go for a cruise down the Grand Canal in Venice. You will enjoy the charm and characteristics of all the buildings lining the canal.
Here, you will get a unique view over the palazzo, homes of the wealthy, and luxurious hotels. Watching all the other boats and gondolas come and go is fascinating.
There are multiple photo opportunities here, but instead of being stuck behind a camera, we highly recommend you take a sunset cruise and sit back and soak it all in.
There are different options for exploring the Venice Grand Canal:
- Vaporetto: The public water boat is the cheapest way to experience the canal. A one-way cruise costs only 7 euros p/p. Vaporetto 1, 82, N, 3, and 4 go along the canal.
- Gondola: This is probably the most romantic and atmospheric way to experience the Grand Canal; however, it comes with a high price. Enquire at the Gondoliers lining the Grand Canal to get a price quote.
- Grand Canal Tours: Viator has different tour options available to experience the Grand Canal, check out their choices here.
10 Popular Island Trips – Murano and Burano
Visit two of the most popular islands around Venice.
Murano Island is renowned for its glass-blowing shops. Here, you can find many little glass bits and pieces to purchase.
Venice Burano Island is well known for its colored buildings and little shops selling various lace items.
You must dedicate at least half a day to visiting these little islands. Public water buses make their way to them regularly during the day.
You can grab a map and timetable from your hotel reception to organize your own day trip to Murano and Burano. Alternatively, you can book a tour through Viator here.
However, avoiding the ‘free’ trips various Vendors offer to these islands would be best.
These trips might be free; however, you must purchase glass or lace items on the islands to ensure a return trip to Venice.
Final Thoughts on What to Do in Venice for First-Timers
And there you have your quick list of what to do in Venice for first-time visitors.
Keep in mind that things happen at a much slower pace on this lagoon, and you will need to allocate extra time simply to account for all the times you will get lost.
Remember to pack comfortable walking shoes and perhaps download an offline map to your phone – you’ll need both as you lose yourself in the magic of Venice.
Lastly, to actually enjoy Venice, I highly recommend you avoid visiting during the peak season (the crowds can destroy the magic of this place!).
Also, I highly recommend you stay in Venice itself rather than doing it as a day trip. That way, you can enjoy some quieter moments before and after the day trippers leave.
However if you are short on time, Venice is one of the places near Milan that you could include on one itinerary.
Have a beautiful trip to Italy!
Wow! What a gorgeous church–I love the intricate details! I can definitely see how the extra fee would be worth skipping the lines. It always feels like such a waste of time to wait in a line especially when you are short on time.
Exactly, for us it is always worth the cost and effort to get tickets ahead of time in order to skip those lines!
Once in San Marco square we found it difficult to understand where and how to buy tickets for different attractions, or even where they were, such as the palace. We wanted to cross the bridge of sighs but ran out of time before finding the ticket counter. (Seems that most blogs sort of skip this point.) We chose instead the clock tower tour, where you can see the inner workings of the clock and get an amazing roof top view of the city.
Hi Mary, we just bought all our tickets as skip-the-line tickets online before we went. But I’m always super organized, so it is just the way I plan my trips.
Great post and beautiful photos. I am planning to visit Venice for 3 days and your advices help me a lot to organize my journey. No doubt I’ll visit all 10 attractions. Thanks.
Have a beautiful trip 🙂
Hey! Thanks for writing this excellent blog about the Top 10 Attractions in Venice. Venice is one of my favorite cities in Italy, and I have seen all of these and many more amazing places there. This city is a masterpiece, and I loved traveling in boats through the canals the most.
Thank you very much for your kind words, and sorry for the much-delayed response. Yes, Venice is amazing and we will definitely be back again, hopefully soon.